Biblical references on Trigun.

[For_Him]

Throughout the Trigun anime series, there are an extensive number of both overtly and subtly conveyed Biblical references. This modest article hopes to point a few out to you...

Exhibit A >> Wolfwood:
Nicholas Wolfwood, Vash's good friend and formidable rival, is a priest by profession. He's also a much darker hero than Vash, willing to kill to achieve his ends. Wolfwood humorously carries with him a mini-confessional that he places over the heads of those who need to confess. He also charges people money to use that confessional. Furthermore, Wolfwood's weapon of choice is a gigantic cross that can be used as a very versatile weapon. Though he's a priest, the first time Wolfwood actually confesses anything is when he's close to his final moments.

Conclusion: By making Wolfwood a priest, the makers of Trigun are heavily poking fun at priests in general. Wolfwood is a very dark character who killed his guardian at a young age and manipulates symbols of his church for less-than-pious reasons. To his credit though, Wolfwood is very selfless when it comes to children, particularly orphans.

Exhibit B >> Eden (Literally):
When Wolfwood is confessing his sins to the church, he mentions that he'd like to go to Eden to live with Vash and company. He then imagines what it would be like.

Exhibit C >> Eden (Symbolically):
There's a lot of symbol portrayals of Eden. Basically, with Project SEED, the humans aboard wanted to create paradise on a new planet where everything would be perfect. They even created two people to live on this paradise with them - Vash and Knives. This leads us into the next exhibit...

Exhibit D >> Fall of Man:
Vash and Knives are like Adam and Eve. Eve corrupts Adam in paradise in the same way that Knives corrupts Vash. Knives abandons the humans and takes Vash with him (just like Eve kind of abandoned God and took Adam with her).

Exhibit E >> Apple Symbolism:
What better way to represent the fall of man than to put lots and lots of apples throughout the series? In one episode of Trigun (the one where Knives begins to go crazy), there is a ton of really obvious apple symbolism. Furthermore, Chapel the Evergreen (Wolfwood's mentor) always carries around a green apple.

Conclusion: This is my take on Chapel's green apple. It's not red in order to show a reversal of the normal red apple. That is, rather than symbolizing the fall of man, it symbolizes man's redemption. That's why Wolfwood, throughout his life, has always tried to snatch the green apple (to no consequence). He is only able to get the green apple after he decides not to kill his old mentor (showing how he saved himself). He then declares the apple to be quite tasty - being redeemed is very sweet indeed.

Exhibit F >> Angel Arms:
This is definitely a biblical reference of something (I'm not quite sure what though). Vash has a monstrous, angelic-looking arm weapon that has the capabilities to destroy entire cities...

[termyt]

I often think of Wolfwood as Trigun's Paul. He's not the most pious guy (although Paul was), but given the standards of living on the planet Gunsmoke, he's doing all right. He travels across the country side doing his best to do what's right. Protecting orphans and raising money for their care. Listening to confessions and tending to the flock - all good things. However, his belief system is flawed. A fact that he doesn't realize until he comes face to face with one who's belief system is not flawed. [spoiler]He's forced to re-think his belief structure and, as Paul accepted the correction of Christ on the road to Damascus, he changes his own belief system to reflect that of Vash - which leads to both his death and his ultimate salvation.[/spoiler]

I know I'm setting up Vash as a messiah figure, but, even though he does have flaws, that's basically what he is. His purpose in the show is to bring relief to his own people and salvation to all of the people of planet Gunsmoke - which he does with one exception.

[uc pseudonym]

This thread has a number of problems, the foremost being a lack of spoilers. If someone was in the process of watching Trigun they would have a great deal of it ruined for them. I will fix this in the first two posts, but everyone else should handle their own posts.

Secondly, this is old ground. That doesn't mean it is bad, it just means that we've already covered this material before. I doubt it will be new to many people. But feel free to carry on... with spoilers.

For all to see, the spoiler brackets are as such, minus the asterisk:
[*spoiler=content name]Spoiler Content[/spoiler]

Regarding termyt's post: I'm a bit uncomfortable putting Vash in such a position. It strikes me as drawing meaning where there is none, and overthinking the anime.

[Gypsy]

Regarding termyt's post: I'm a bit uncomfortable putting Vash in such a position. It strikes me as drawing meaning where there is none, and overthinking the anime.

I agree. I would be very wary of turning a hero's role into a representation of the Messiah's purpose.

[termyt]

I agree. I would be very wary of turning a hero's role into a representation of the Messiah's purpose.

Thank you for pointing this out. I can see that my comment could cause some confusion and I apologize for that. Vash is most definitely not the messiah. Please allow me to clarify.

I was attempting to point out Vash’s messiah like role on the mythical planet Gunsmoke. I should have use a term more like a “reflection of Christâ€

[uc pseudonym]

In that context I have far less of an issue with the post. I have seen many secular movies used to advance the gospel, and I see no reason why points could not be made using a basically secular anime.

[animefreak09]

This is so true. They're are some more references but I'm getting all into it right now.

Get it??

I thought so! Good!

[For_Him]

I'll have to agree wath you Varth.

[CobaltAngel]

Wasn't there another thread about this? Lol, a really long time ago?

I see Wolfwood as more of an example of redemption no matter how bad your sin is.

[spoiler]That last scene with him was beautifully done. It made me feel sad that he was so lost that he didn't even fully understand the religion he had studied in his whole life. The way he kept saying how his being a priest was more of just a business to him and his attitude towards problem solving shows that he really didn't believe much of anything that he was preaching. Even when he was confessing his sins before he died he was talking about stuff like being reincanated. [/spoiler]
He was a sad, angery, confused man but he still asked God for forgiveness even though he didn't fully understand. That's just... wow.

[Falco53]

^ That scene was perhaps the most beautifully done scene of all time. The fact that I did not cry during that scene makes me wonder whether or not I'm not a robot.

[uc pseudonym]

I have seen essentially all of Trigun excepting that scene. Apparently I am missing out on quite a bit, and I will admit I am quite curious about it.

[Arnobius]

In Trigun, I was rather ambivalent about Wolfwood. In Japan, most Christian symbols are not used as we see them. Truth be told there is a lot of ingrained mistrust of Christianity (People are still taught that during the 17th century, Japanese Christians were a 5th column plotting to help the Europeans colonize Japan.

I find that there are a few different motives in making use of Christian symbols and institutions:

1. Hostility towards religion generally or Christianity specifically
2. Use for style and not having any theological meaning
3. Used for symbolic meaning from a Japanese and not a Christian perspective

Examples of #1 include the old Dreamcast game Grandia 2 as the immediate example in my mind (Just finished it last week).
[Spoiler]In this game, a church very obviously modelled after Christianity turns out to be a hypocritical and evil organization, keeping people from becoming all they can be[/Spoiler]
I think Wolfwood fits in here, as he is generally portrayed as hypocritical as a priest. His virtue only comes into play when he abandons that role.

Examples of #2 are wherever crucifixes are just used as decoration, or where the artist wants to have an exotic setting (I think Chrono Crusade fits here, since the author seems to have intended no harm, and probably didn't realize the issues people might have).

Examples of #3 include where we see people crucified in anime. For example, in Sailor Moon R. This isn't a blasphemous equation of the character with Christ. The Japanese also crucified people and the symbolism here is that the perpetrator is evil and the victims are going to die painfully if they're not rescued.

In Trigun, I sense a bit of hostility towards religion in how Wormwood is handled. Of course this is for the anime. I haven't seen the manga.

[Raiden no Kishi]

In Trigun, I sense a bit of hostility towards religion in how Wormwood is handled.

::eye twitches::

W...wha...WHAT DID YOU SAY!?!?!?!?

Heh, you better not let AngelSakura know about your little typo there.

Rai

[Arnobius]

::eye twitches::

W...wha...WHAT DID YOU SAY!?!?!?!?

Heh, you better not let AngelSakura know about your little typo there.

Rai

D'OH!
I have a mental block about that name. I always MEAN "Wolfwood," but always WRITE "Wormwood."

Must be because I always liked CS Lewis' Screwtape Letters

[That Dude]

About that Vash as the messiah figure thing, I think a better and seemingly more acurate discription would be Vash as more of a Moses figure. There are a lot more parallels...Like how he kills when there seems to be no other choice.

[For_Him]

I've seen the anime a lot of times and believe me, Vash never killed people, even the ones he doesen't like! The only two people I remember him killing was Legato(when he had to save Meryl and Milly), and his twin brother Knives(last Trigun episode). He took Wolfwood's cross gun with him(which he then lost during the battle), and it was like he was there with him, 'cause just when Vash got pinned down by Knives's angel-arm guns, you could just hear the voice of Wolfwood say to Vash, "In the sand to your right('course it's been a long time since I've last seen it, about two years I'd say)!" Vash forced his hand into the sand to pick up Wolfwood's cross gun, which he used to defeat Knives. Wolfwood helped Vash possibly the same way God would help him. Well that's my opinion anyway so I don't know if you would exactly agree with me.

[Needle Noggin]

I've seen the anime a lot of times and believe me, Vash never killed people, even the ones he doesen't like! The only two people I remember him killing was Legato(when he had to save Meryl and Milly), and his twin brother Knives(last Trigun episode). He took Wolfwood's cross gun with him(which he then lost during the battle), and it was like he was there with him, 'cause just when Vash got pinned down by Knives's angel-arm guns, you could just hear the voice of Wolfwood say to Vash, "In the sand to your right('course it's been a long time since I've last seen it, about two years I'd say)!" Vash forced his hand into the sand to pick up Wolfwood's cross gun, which he used to defeat Knives. Wolfwood helped Vash possibly the same way God would help him. Well that's my opinion anyway so I don't know if you would exactly agree with me.

He did'nt kill Knives...why do you think he bandaged him up?You don't put bandages on a dead man.

[For_Him]

BY GAR, I MUST BE GETTING OLD!! I swear(I would but standards won't let me)that Vash got Knives, and I certainly don't remember Vash bandageing him up! I guess I'm gonna hafta see Trigun again(maybe when I finally move outta the house I'll get the DVD set. That is IF there is one).

[Needle Noggin]

There is a DVD boxset. In fact I own it.

[Kisa]

Good points! I really like what you pointed out about the green apple.

[JesusFreak84]

OK, so I'm not the only lunatic who looked at the anime that way. Coolies. Trigun is probably on my top 5 list of animes. ^_^

[Arnobius]

BY GAR, I MUST BE GETTING OLD!! I swear(I would but standards won't let me)that Vash got Knives, and I certainly don't remember Vash bandageing him up! I guess I'm gonna hafta see Trigun again(maybe when I finally move outta the house I'll get the DVD set. That is IF there is one).

Yeah, the closing credits showed him carrying Knives back into town as I recall.

[Jeikobu]

Some really interesting points of view inthis thread, some which never even crossed my mind.
I really like Trigun since it preaches such good, important themes, and even gives support to Christianity, especially in ep 23. Vash could be symbolic of the Messiah, but certainly not in all aspects. He is an example to follow, but like any human he has his faults and has made his mistakes (especially in ep 24). As for Wolfwood, he is a very unorthodox priest, and really doesn't act like one for most of the show for the most part, but he is man of God in his heart, [SPOILER]and it really shows in his death scene in ep 23. This is the highlight of the series, when he talks to God as he dies, and says how he wants to live in Eden in happiness with Vash, Meryl and Milly (obviously meaning heaven). He made alot of mistakes in his life, but in the end came back to God, which is a great example for us all, to come back to God if we turn away, and know we can still be redeemed.[/SPOILER] The Biblical sense of Trigun is my favorite part of the anime. It will forever remain one of my all time favorites.

[For_Him]

Yeah, episode 24(Paradise) nearly pushed me to tears near the end. When Wolfwood took a bite from that green apple(color symbolizing redemption)he said it tastes sweet, and as we all know, redemption is sweet tasting to our souls.

Yeah, the closing credits showed him carrying Knives back into town as I recall.

Well I've been watching Trigun on Adult Swim, and it's the only time I've been able to see that, and I don't recall Vash carrying Knives into town at the end of episode 26(Beneath the Sky so Blue)

[Arnobius]

Yeah, episode 24(Paradise) nearly pushed me to tears near the end. When Wolfwood took a bite from that green apple(color symbolizing redemption)he said it tastes sweet, and as we all know, redemption is sweet tasting to our souls.



Well I've been watching Trigun on Adult Swim, and it's the only time I've been able to see that, and I don't recall Vash carrying Knives into town at the end of episode 26(Beneath the Sky so Blue)

I don't know if what you see on Adult Swim is the same on the DVD (the only way I saw it). In ep26, the closing credits (different song, I think) showed a binch of scenes of the different chara doing different things. I remember the bit about Vash because it struck me that he was going to have to learn to live with the people he hated and I thought there was a bit there to symbolize that it is always possible to turn around and make a new start.

Been 2-3 years since I last saw it, but that's what I remember.

[AngelSakura]

<<Well I've been watching Trigun on Adult Swim, and it's the only time I've been able to see that, and I don't recall Vash carrying Knives into town at the end of episode 26(Beneath the Sky so Blue)>>
The way they show Trigun (and all other anime except for FMA, since the credits are part of the episode) on Adult Swim is they run the episode and then they run the credits for the first episode, which is why you can see a listing for Loose Ruth's voice actor but not for Legato's, for instance.

[Arnobius]

<<Well I've been watching Trigun on Adult Swim, and it's the only time I've been able to see that, and I don't recall Vash carrying Knives into town at the end of episode 26(Beneath the Sky so Blue)>>
The way they show Trigun (and all other anime except for FMA, since the credits are part of the episode) on Adult Swim is they run the episode and then they run the credits for the first episode, which is why you can see a listing for Loose Ruth's voice actor but not for Legato's, for instance.

That's probably what happened. The ep26 credits are completely different from eps 1-25 and show what happened after the battle.

All this discussion is giving me some nolstalgia for the series. Maybe I ought to dust off the boxes again.

[termyt]

For clarification in discussions:

There is a difference between a "messiah figure" in a story (or even real life) and our Lord and Savior. The messiah figure of a story is one who, generally through great personal risk to himself, saves one or more of the other principle characters even though he himself profits very little from the work. That is not to say that the characters even approach the level of Christ or is in any way revered like He ought to be. It's just that, for the purpose of the story being told, that character performed a similar function.

Vash is definitely a messiah figure. He changes his world by changing the lives of the people he meets. He sacrifices himself - his body, his potential aspirations (is there any doubt he could rule the planet if he wanted to?), his power - to serve the people of Gunsmoke. But that is not to say he is in any way a surrogate for Jesus.

Vash is not perfect, and although he changed lives, he has not absolved anyone of their sins and Trigun doesn't pretend that he has. However, I do believe he stands as a good example.

There is one Messiah above all others, but the term can be (and is) applied to many others.

[Arnobius]

For clarification in discussions:

There is a difference between a "messiah figure" in a story (or even real life) and our Lord and Savior. The messiah figure of a story is one who, generally through great personal risk to himself, saves one or more of the other principle characters even though he himself profits very little from the work. That is not to say that the characters even approach the level of Christ or is in any way revered like He ought to be. It's just that, for the purpose of the story being told, that character performed a similar function.

Vash is definitely a messiah figure. He changes his world by changing the lives of the people he meets. He sacrifices himself - his body, his potential aspirations (is there any doubt he could rule the planet if he wanted to?), his power - to serve the people of Gunsmoke. But that is not to say he is in any way a surrogate for Jesus.

Vash is not perfect, and although he changed lives, he has not absolved anyone of their sins and Trigun doesn't pretend that he has. However, I do believe he stands as a good example.

There is one Messiah above all others, but the term can be (and is) applied to many others.

Good you clarified that. I wondered what you meant, but didn't want to touch off a theological war if I misinterpreted.